Nepal PM Prachanda says focus of his India visit is to clear all doubts

Kathmandu: Ahead of his India visit, Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda on Tuesday said the main thrust of his trip would be to "clear all doubts" in bilateral ties and build an environment of confidence and trust.

Prachanda will travel to New Delhi on September 15 for a four-day goodwill visit, his first foreign visit after assuming power some six weeks ago.

"The main expectation of my visit is to improve and strengthen Nepal-India relations that have gone through some bitter experiences in the recent past," said 61-year-old Prachanda responding to a question during an interaction with a group foreign correspondents at his official residence in Baluwatar.

"I am also expecting that India would help us to get out of the current difficult situation that would help strengthen our ties," he said.

"What had happened last year (indicating to border blockade) was very much painful to the Nepalese people  and it was also not a pleasant thing for India," said Prachanda adding, "we will move towards adding a new dimension in the bilateral relations by learning from the past."

"My visit will clear all doubts and an environment of confidence and trust will be built," he claimed.

Prachanda said the environment in Delhi is favourable for Nepal this time as he had sensed from Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, who had just concluded his two-day visit to India.

"From the feedback I received from our Foreign Minister, it is certain that this time I would not have to bear much pressure during my visit to Delhi this time and I will be visiting there in a much relaxed manner," said the Prime Minister.

Prachanda said he would hold discussions tomorrow with the Madhesi parties and other ethnic groups, that had launched months long anti-Constitution agitation last year resulting in death of over 50 people, to resolve the crisis.

"I will hold talks with the agitating parties to address their key demands including re-demarcation of provincial boundary and citizenship issue, and I am hopeful of reaching an agreement t with them to amend the Constitution by accommodating their demands," Prachanda said.

He said that he would do everything to make the new Constitution acceptable to all the sections of Nepalese society including the Madhesis and ethnic minority groups and also expressed hope that "an environment would be created for India to welcome it."

He said his government is committed to develop a balanced, warm and cordial relations with the neighbouring countries and for the purpose he had recently sent his special envoys to India and China soon after assuming office.

Prachanda had sent Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara to China and Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi to India as special envoys.